Dispensing and closure cap for flexible tubes



July 15, 1941. c, w, JOHNSEN I 2,249,385

DISPENSING AND CLO$URE CAP FOR FLEXIBLE TUBES Filed June 19, 1939 17. WL/b/ZHSBJ? Patented July 15, 1941 DISPENSING AND CLOSURE GAP FOR FLEXIBLE TUBES Cortland W. Johnsen, Tacoma, Wash. Application June 19, 1939, Serial No. 280,017

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined closure and dispensing cap used in connection with flexible tubes for holding tooth paste, shaving creams, and the like. The use of my invention, however, is not limited to such tubes and products, as conceivably an auxiliary member for forcing the contents of the holder through the discharge nozzle may be utilized. a

Flexible tubes of the type mentioned usually employ a screw cap which serves to close the discharge nozzle and prevent the material escaping and at the same time, excludes air. This cap is open to several objections in that it requires removal of the cap which often becomes lost exposing the contents of the tube to air and permitting leakage of the contents. The fact that the cap is threaded requires time in removal and replacement of the cap. Closure members forming a part of the tube and having valves which open upon pressure and close through spring action, likewise have been tried, but these have not proved satisfactory in that the aperture often becomes clogged so that the valve does not seat and the resilient means is not sufficiently progected to prevent clogging and inefficient operaion.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, efficient closure having a valve, the opening of which is operated by the pressure of the contents of the tube and closed by mechanical means, being at all times protected from the contents of the tube, and the valve so arranged that it readily permits the discharge of the contents of the tube but cleanly cuts off the discharge contents upon closing and keeps the valve seat clear of accumulated material.

Another object is to provide a closure cap for a flexible tube in which the discharge port is at one side of the closure member, having an inwardly downwardly tapered valve seat and a valve cooperating with the seat, the face of the valve being downwardly and inwardly tapered to contact the taper of the valve seat, the rear portion of the valve having a knife-edge to wipe material from the inner side of the discharge port.

Still another object is to have the discharge port rectangular with the valve of corresponding shape so that upon the valve being raised through pressure, a thin ribbon of material will be discharged, and upon the valve seating, the ribbon will be sharply cut off and at the same time, the rear of the valve having a knife edge, will force the material out of the discharge port into the tube.

Other objects will be disclosed in the specification and claims forming a part of the application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the tube and closure member;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; r

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the closure member;.and

Figure 4 is a detail in perspective of the valve member.

Referring to the drawing, in which similar parts are designatedby like numerals:

Numeral 5 designates a flexible tube of the usual construction used for tooth paste, shaving cream, and the like, having a closure member 6 secured to or formed integral with the tubei.

As illustrated, a wire 1 encircles the upper edge 8 of the tube 5, pressing the tube into a groove 9 formed in the closure member 6. The closure member 6 may be madeof suitable material, either metal or some composition. A recess I0 is formed in the underside of the closure member 6 with flanges ll extending into the tube. The recess 10 and flanges ll form a cy1inder to receive a piston l2. A valve stem 13 is connected to the piston l2 and extends through the top of the cylinder l l by way of an aperture M, and rests Within a recess l5 formed in the closure member 6. On the end of the valve stem 13 is formed a valve l6, having a rectangular upper surface ll, the lower surface l8 being tapered from front to back so that the front face I9 is in the same plane as the side of the tube and shorter than the rear face 29. The valve 16 coincides with and completely fills .a discharge port 2| formed in the outer edge of the closure member 6. The discharge port 2| extends down into the side 22 and into the cap 23 of the closure.

member 6. A spring 24 encircles the valve stem !3 and seats behind the piston l2 within the recess l0.

The front edge 25 of the discharge port 2| forms a valve seat 26 which is tapered downwardly and inwardly to receive the underside [8 of the valve l6.

As actually used, pressure will be, exerted on the contents of the tube by compressing the sides thereof. This, in turn, will exert pressure on the piston I2 which is positioned in the center of the tube and, in turn, compress the spring 24 through movement of the piston I2 in the cylinder 1 I. The valve stem I3 will likewise be raised and carry with it the valve [6 opening the discharge port 2 l, Raising of the valve I6 is gradual due to the valve being offset from the valve stem l3 and the piston I 2,

Further the compression of the spring 24 serves as a cushion to prevent any sudden opening of the valve. The tension of the spring 24 is such that usual pressure will only open the valve iii a sufficient distance topermit extrusion of a thin ribbon of material. The rectangular shape of the discharge port 2| forces the material to conform to that shape and due to the limited upward movement of the valve I6, the discharged material retains a ribbon-like form. The valve in reality has a double guide since the discharge opening extends from the top down the side of the closure member 16 and the thickness of the valve permits the valve to remain in the discharge port 2|, both along the side and top of the closure. Actually the discharge of the material occurs through the side of the closure, as shown in Figure 1. Due to the tapered undersurface l8 of the valve l6, the rear portion of the discharge port is always closed since it is much longer than the front surface, and at the same time, tends to guide the material through the discharge port along the underside of the valve. Likewise upon cessation of pressure in the'tube, the spring 24 will cause the valve IE to seat, cutting off the ribbon of material and forcing the material adjacent the discharge port back into the tube. Likewise, the rear surface 20 of the valve it which comes to a knife edge at its underside, serves to Wipe ofi the material accumulated on the inner side of the discharge port. The rear surface of the valve I6 is substantially the same thickness as the cap 23 and makes a sleeve-fit with the wall of the discharge port so that no material can escape at this point. The shape of the valve, discharge port and valve seat is extremely important in overcoming the objections heretofore existing in closures of this type, and likewise, it is important to have the piston located in the center of the tube in offset relation to the valve.

Upon the sides of the tube being compressed, the valve and valve stem will be gradually raised permitting the discharge of the material beneath the front side of the valve over the tapered edge 25 of the discharge port, the ribbon of discharged material being always under control and responsive to the pressure on the sides of the con tainer. It may be desirable to limit the movement of the piston in the cylinder so that regardless of pressure the opening in the discharge port will never extend into the top of the container, but will always be in the side of the tube. The valve l6 and valve stem l3 when not in raised position are flush with the upper surface of the cap 23.

Numerous variations may doubtless be devised by persons skilled in the art without departing from the principles of my invention. I, therefore, desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, except such as are indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a collapsible tube, a cap at one end of said tube having a discharge port therein, a valve in said discharge port, a valve seat in said discharge port, a resilient member within said tube slidably mounted in said cap, said member being offset from said valve, a valve stem connected to said valve and said resilient member, said resilient member adapted to be raised by pressure from the contents of the tube, said valve having a downwardly and inwardly tapered under surface corresponding to a similarly tapered valve seat.

2. In combination with a collapsible tube, a cap at one end of said tube having a discharge port extending from the top of said cap through the side thereof, the lower front edge of said discharge port forming a valve seat, the rear portion of said discharge port having a skirt extending into said tube, a valve in said discharge port having a front portion normally in contact with said valve seat and a rear portion in the form of a knife edge in sliding engagement with said skirt, a resilient member within said tube slidably mounted in said cap and offset from said valve, a valve stem connecting said valve and said resilient member, pressure from the contents of the tube being adapted to raise said resilient member and in turn open said valve, the resilient member being adapted to seat said valve upon cessation of pressure from the contents of the tube.

3. In combination with a collapsible tube, a cap at one end of said tube having a discharge port extending from the top of said cap through the side thereof, the lower front edge of said discharge port forming a downwardly and inwardly tapered valve seat, the rear portion of said discharge port having a skirt extending into said tube, a valve in said discharge port having its underside downwardly and inwardly tapered, the

front portion of said underside being normally in contact with said valve seat and a rear portion in the form of a knife edge in sliding engagement with said skirt, a resilient member within said tube slidably mounted in said cap and ofiset from said valve, a valve stem connecting said valve and said resilient member, pressure from the contents of the tube being adapted to raise said resilient member and in turn open said valve, the resilient member being adapted to seat said valve upon cessation of pressure from the contents of the tube.

4. In combination with a collapsible tube, a cap at one end of said tube having a rectangular'discharge port extending from the top of said cap through a side thereof, the lower front edge of said discharge port forming an inwardly, and downwardly tapered valve seat, the rear portion of said discharge port having a skirt extending into said tube, a valve in axial alignment with said discharge port having its underside downwardly and inwardly tapered, the front portion of said underside being normally in contact with said valve seat and a rear portion in the form of a knife edge being in sliding engagement with said skirt, a resilient member within said tube slidably mounted in said cap and offset fromsaid valve, a valve stem connecting said valve and said resilient member, pressure from the contents of the tube being adapted to raise said resilient member and in turn open said valve, the resilient member being adapted to seat said valve upon cessation of pressure from the contents of the tube.

5. In combination with a collapsible .tube, a, cap at one end of said tube having a discharge port therein, a valve in said discharge port, a valve seat in said discharge port, a cylinder supported by said cap, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, a valve stem connecting said valve and said piston, a spring member within said cylinder and surrounding said valve stem, said valve being adapted to contact said valve seat in closed position, said piston being responsive topressure exerted by the contents of said tube to raise said valve and open said port, said spring being adapted to close said valve upon the cessation of pressure within the tube.

6. In combination with a collapsible tube, a cap at one end of said tube having a discharge port therein, a valve in said discharge port, a valve seat in said discharge port, a cylinder supported by said cap, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder being substantially in the center of said tube and offset from said valve, a valve stem connecting said valve and said piston, the lower portion of said valve stem being within said cylinder and in substantial alignment with the'vertical axis of said tube, the'upper'portion of said stem being in angular relation to the lower portion of said stem and exterior of said tube, a spring member within said cylinder and surrounding the lower portion of said valve stem, said valve being adapted to contact said valve seat in closed position, said piston being responsive to pressure exerted by the contents of said tube to raise said valve and open said port, said spring being adapted to close said valve upon the cessation of pressure within the tube.

'7. In combination with a collapsible tube, a cap at one end of said tube having a rectangular discharge port extending from the top of said cap through a side thereof, the lower front edge of said discharge port forming an inwardly and" downwardly tapered valve seat, the rear portion of said discharge port having a skirt extending into said tube, a valve in axial alignment with said discharge port having its underside downwardly and inwardly tapered, the front portion of said underside being normally in contact with said valve seat and a rear portion being in the form of a knife edge in sliding engagement with said skirt, a cylinder supported by said cap, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder being substantially in the center of said tube and offset from said valve, a valve stem connecting said valve and said piston, the lower portion of said valve stem being within said cylinder and in substantial alignment with the vertical plane of said tube, the upper portion of said stem being in angular relation'to the lower portion of said stem and exterior of said tube, a spring member within said cylinder and surrounding the lower portion of said valve stem, said valve being adapted to contact said valve seat in closed position, said piston being responsive to pressure exerted by the contents of said tube to raise said valve and open said port, said spring being adapted to close said valve upon the cessation of pressure within the tube.

CORTLAND W. J OI-INSEN. 

